Downtown Jackson
Downtown Jackson, from State Street to Farish Street and Pascagoula Street to Yazoo Street, closes its streets to traffic for the National Folk Festival, the nation's longest-running traditional arts event. The free three-day outdoor festival runs rain or shine, with three tented stages keeping performances dry, and typically draws well over 100,000 people by its third year in a host city. Free parking and shuttles run from the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and Smith-Wills Stadium, alongside paid downtown parking decks and lots.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Outdoor, with three tented stages for rain
- Official site
- nationalfolkfestival.com
- Next festival here
- National Folk Festival, Nov 13 to 15, 2026
Worth knowing before you go
- Food vendors and the marketplace open later on Friday (5pm) than Saturday and Sunday (11am).
- The ADA shuttle has limited space, so plan ahead if you need it.
- From 7 to 10pm, the Park N Ride shuttle runs outbound only, back to Smith-Wills Stadium.
- This is the first time the National Folk Festival has been held in Mississippi.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Free three-day outdoor festival · Streets closed to traffic downtown · Three tented stages, rain or shine.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a free, three-day outdoor festival with family activities and parades.
- You're happy taking a free shuttle instead of driving into downtown.
- You don't mind catching some of it under a tent if it rains.
Think twice if
- You need guaranteed step-free access throughout: the ADA shuttle has limited space.
- You were planning to drive right up to the site: the festival streets are closed to traffic.
Getting there and parking
The festival takes place in historic Downtown Jackson, from State Street to Farish Street and from Pascagoula Street to Yazoo Street, and streets into the site are closed to vehicle traffic. Coming from I-55 South or I-20 West, exit at 96A (Pearl St/Convention Complex), stay left onto Access Road, then turn right onto Jefferson St and left onto Amite St.
Multiple downtown parking decks and public lots charge an hourly rate, with designated handicapped spaces in all public lots and garages. Free festival parking is also available within walking distance at the southwest corner of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, near Jefferson St and Madison St.
Free JTRAN buses run during the festival, including a Park N Ride shuttle from Smith-Wills Stadium to Union Station downtown, first come first served; from 7 to 10pm it runs outbound only, back to the stadium.
Accessibility
Designated handicapped parking spaces are available in all public lots and downtown parking garages, and an ADA-compliant shuttle, though with limited space, runs during festival hours between the Jefferson St entrance and a stop near State St and Amite St.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (nationalfolkfestival.com).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Downtown Jackson. The venue's own pages are the place to check: nationalfolkfestival.com.
Food, water and what you can bring
Food Vendors and the Festival Marketplace open at 5pm on Friday and at 11am on Saturday and Sunday.
Quick answers
Are the streets closed for the National Folk Festival?
Yes. Streets into the Downtown Jackson festival site, from State Street to Farish Street and Pascagoula Street to Yazoo Street, are closed to vehicle traffic.
Is parking free at the National Folk Festival?
Partly. Downtown parking decks and lots charge an hourly rate, but free festival parking is available within walking distance at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds near Jefferson St and Madison St.
Is there a shuttle to the festival?
Yes. A free Park N Ride shuttle runs from Smith-Wills Stadium to Union Station downtown, first come first served, with outbound-only service from 7 to 10pm.
Is the National Folk Festival wheelchair accessible?
Partly. Handicapped parking spaces are in every public lot and garage, and an ADA-compliant shuttle runs during festival hours, though with limited space.
When do the food vendors open?
At 5pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday.
What happens if it rains during the festival?
The festival goes on rain or shine. Three tented stages offer a dry environment for performances, and guest-services booths post updated schedules.
Are there family activities at the festival?
Yes. Alongside the music and dance programming, the festival includes family activities, storytelling, crafts demonstrations and parades, all free outdoors.
A little history
Jackson is the capital of Mississippi and the state's largest city, known for music traditions rooted in its African American history such as blues, gospel and soul; the city played a central role in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s and calls itself the City with Soul.
The National Folk Festival is the nation's longest-running traditional arts event, a free three-day outdoor multicultural celebration that historically draws upwards of 150,000 attendees by its third year in a host city. Over the full three-year Jackson residency it is expected to draw more than 330,000 visitors downtown and generate over $60 million in long-term economic impact, the first time the festival has been held in Mississippi. The festival runs rain or shine, with three tented stages keeping performances dry and guest-services booths posting updated schedules through weather changes. Alongside the music and dance, it includes family activities, storytelling, crafts demonstrations and parades, all free outdoors.